The Writing Prompt Boot Camp

Embracing the Possibilities

As Zac mentioned in his last post, I’ll be stepping in here at Promptly–and trying to suppress my envy!–while he’s out enjoying a much deserved vacation. I’ve heard some people say that it takes them several days to truly let go and transition into “vacation mode.” Not me. My favorite feeling on vacation is the one you have right at the beginning, on day one, with the whole trip stretching out before you—all those possibilities. In a way, it’s sort of like facing the blank page with that blend of uncertainty, expectation and excitement—you can hesitate, or you can dive right in and see where it leads you.

This, then, is the inspiration for today’s prompt. What will be your inspiration for completing it?

Harley stared at the Craigslist page long after she sent the confirmation details. She knew nothing about this Ali woman, and what if she turned out to be a stick in the mud? Already, it seemed like she had a tight schedule planned for her part of the trip, and Harley was no real planner. This whole road trip had been planned on a whim, and the only reason she was taking someone — Ali — along was because she needed someone to split gas money. As it was, they’d be doing a lot of washing in rest stop bathrooms and sleeping in the van.

"Wow, I’ve just signed up to cross the country with a total stranger. Christ, Annie, what have you done to me?"

But she had no choice, she had to get away.

Sunday dawned bright and early, but Harley already had the van packed, leaving room on the left for Ali’s stuff. She hoped Ali wasn’t one of those kitchen sink packers; they were following a tour, and had to move in and out and fast. She was getting impatient, though Ali wasn’t late, not yet. Harley just wanted to get on the road already. The sooner they left, the sooner they’d be hanging with the band. Wouldn’t Annie be surprised.

A silver Jeep drove up, the driver a darker-skinned man with a bright smile. Someone hopped down from the passenger side. Obscured by his Army duffle, it took some minutes before Harley saw their face, and well. Wasn’t that a surprise. Ali was a man.

A very fine-boned, fragile looking man, but definitely not a woman, at least not biologically. His smile echoed the brightness of the driver as, with a wave, he took off.

"My brother. And I’m Ali Said."

"Like the character on Lost," Harley said.

Ali tilted his head to the side, frowning, but shrugged. "More or less."

"Who says that?" she asked, holding out her hand for the bag so she could pack it with her things. "More or less? It’s seems like a way of saying nothing."

"I do," Ali said. His teeth flashed again, and for a moment, he looked positively wicked. Delicate, but still very handsome. Harley sighed a little in envy; the word delicate had never been one used to describe her.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Almost," Ali said. "But first I must pray."

She suppressed a groan. So not only a dude, but a religious dude. Harley was not impressed.